Latest KFF Health News Stories
Calif. Group Fails To Get Ballot Referendum On Law Giving Terminally Ill Access To Lethal Drugs
The opponents of the new law say the legislation has insufficient safeguards for vulnerable populations. A California doctor is also worried about patients choosing the option over other treatments.
News outlets report on health care developments in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Missouri, Ohio, Washington, Delaware and Maryland.
VA Won’t Help Pay For Service Dogs For Vets With PTSD
The Department of Veterans Affairs says it will study what effect specially trained service dogs can have on the lives of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. It takes more than two years and costs about $30,000 to train such a dog.
S.C. Lawmakers To Wrestle With Medicaid Costs, While Calif. Gets Waivers To Implement Reforms
The South Carolina Medicaid director says without more legislative funding, the state may have to cut services or reimbursements. In California, officials announced that the federal government has approved plans for some changes. Also, a key Kansas advocate for people with disabilities is retiring.
States Put High Drug Prices On Agenda For 2016
While lawmakers take action in California, pharmaceutical companies in Ohio find problems with a ballot issue aiming to keep prescription drug prices down.
LifePoint Health Buys Hospitals In Georgia, North Carolina
In other regional hospital news, Cleveland officials are urging hospitals against diverting ambulances to emergency rooms that are farther away. And the outgoing director of a St. Louis Veterans Affairs facility talks about changes made at the hospital.
Arkansas Files Notice With Feds That It Will Seek Changes In Landmark Medicaid Plan
Gov. Asa Hutchinson, when taking office last year, suggested he wanted to change the hybrid program known as the “private option” that was set up under the Medicaid expansion in the health law.
Illinois’ Community Healthcare System Ends Contract With Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
The Chicago Tribune reports that the relationship between the health system and the insurer ended Dec. 31 and is expected to impact the health care choices of thousand of patients. Also, Kaiser Health News notes a trend in which more employers are offering workers critical illness plans.
Hospitals Work To Eliminate ‘Alarm Fatigue’ From Constant Monitor Alerts
Elsewhere, an autopsy reveals concussion-related brain disease in the youngest patient to date. In other public health developments, new tools to battle RSV and multiple myeloma show promise.
In 2015, First-Of-A Kind Drug Approvals On The Rise
This trend reflected an industry-wide focus on drugs for rare and hard-to-treat diseases. Meanwhile, Gilead’s hepatitis C combo drug gets a Food and Drug Administration priority review, a gene-editing drug maker files for an IPO and some testing of another drug is suspended.
Medicare Getting Revamp In 2016
Among the changes coming this year, Medicare will pay clinicians to counsel patients about options for care at the end of life, and beneficiaries will be able to pick an Accountable Care Organization.
Administration Urges Supreme Court To Strike Down Texas Abortion Regulations
“Those requirements are unnecessary to protect – indeed, would harm – women’s health,” U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli wrote in a friend-of-the-court brief for the first abortion case the high court has heard in almost a decade.
Health Law Opponents Motivated By Cadillac Tax Delay
The two-year moratorium created a blueprint for those looking to chip away at the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, it gave CFOs extra time to prepare for the change.
Clinton Calls For Insurers To Cover Autism Treatment
The presidential candidate also struck out at House Republicans’ attempt to roll back the Affordable Care Act. “They have no plan,” Hillary Clinton said.
Rep. McDermott, Fierce Health Law Proponent, Retiring
Washington Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat, says he will spend the rest of the year working on a mental health reform bill. Meanwhile, the House returns Tuesday to vote on some unfinished business, including a bill repealing the health law, which CBO says would save a half-trillion dollars.
Obama Addresses Mental Health In Executive Actions On Gun Control
In new regulations to address gun violence to be announced Tuesday, the administration will lay out its plan to direct $500 million toward mental health care, overhaul the background-check system and allow health care providers to disclose some information on mentally ill patients to the FBI. Republicans say the move is a misuse of power.
First Edition: January 5, 2016
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Debate On Kidney Transplants: Should Donors Be Paid?
The Washington Post offered a variety of opinions from experts about how to increase the number of kidney donors.
Viewpoints: Health Issues In 2016; Ky. Governor’s ‘Good Sense’ On Medicaid Pause
A selection of opinions on health care from around the country.
Views On Health: Using Patients’ Cells For Research; Fighting Opioid Addiction
Commentators examine some consumer and patient issues.